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(No Model.)

W. R. PATTERSON.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM. No. 563,877. Patented July 14, 1896.

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lVILLIAlil R. PATTERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,877, dated July 14, 1896.

Application filed January 21, 1896 Serial N 5761256| (No niodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM R. PATTERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Village or House Telephone Systems, (Case No. 103,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a village or house telephone system of that class in which a number of telephone-lines extend between the several substations of the system, atelephoneline being individual. to each substation, the telephone-lines being provided at each substation with switch-sockets or spring-jacks into which a plug, connected with the sub station telephone set, may be inserted to connect the telephone set at will with any one of the telephone-lines, and thus loop two substations together for conversation. In systems as thus constructed it often happens that a subscriber neglects to return the plug to its individual spring-jack after the completion of a conversation, and it is the object of my invention to provide means for sounding a signal when the subscriber hangs up his telephone and has neglected to return his plug to its individual spring-jack. A local circuit is provided in which is included a hell or other signal device, contacts being associated with the spring-jacks in such a manner that, if the plug rest in its individual springjack, circuit through the bell will not be closed upon hanging up the subscribers telephone, while, if the plug rest in any other spring-jack, the circuit through the bell will be closed when the subscriber hangs up his telephone, thus sounding an alarm and callin g his attention to the fact that he has neglected to return the plug to its individual spring-jack.

In the particular form of my invention illustrated herein, contacts are provided in connection with each spring-jack except the individual spring-jack, the contacts being closed together when the plug is inserted therein to close the local circuit containing the bell, the

circuit being open during conversation at the subscribers telephone-hook. When the subscriber hangs up his telephone, the continuity of the local circuit is completed, and the bell rings until the subscriber withdraws the plug from the socket and thus separates the contacts to open the local circuit.

1 have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated a telephone system uniting three substations in accordance with my invention.

The telephone-line a a extends to the different substations and is connected with the contact-sprin gs a a at substation B and with the springs or a at substation 0. Likewise the telephone-line 1) b extends to springs b b at substation B and to springs b b at substation C, while the telephone-line c 0 extends to springs c c at substation B and to springs (:"0 at substation O. The apparatus at substations B and C are indicated diagrammatically while a telephone set as actually e1nployed is illustrated at substation A. At substation B is shown a plug (1- inserted between the springs b 12 the contact-terminals of the plugbein g connected together through the telephone-receiver c, transmitterf, telephone-hook g, and switch h when the receiver 6 is removed from its hook, the circuit being normally maintained open so long as the telephone-receiver is hung up. The calling-bell 7c is connected between a contact g, against which the hook g is adapted to rest, and the conductor Z, which is connected to one pole of a calling-battery Z, the other pole of the battery being connected with a conductor F, from which extends a conductor h, terminating in a contact-anvil h into contact with which the lever 7t may be brought upon the depression of the key h Similar apparatus is provided at each of the other substations, and the apparatus at substation O has been lettered to correspond with that zit-substation B. The plug of substation B is shown as inserted in its individual socket, the telephone being thus in circuit with the individual telephone-line Z1 b of substation B.

Supposing subscriber C is desirous of conversing with subscriber B. He inserts the plug into the spring-jack connected with the contact-spring b limb Z) of the telephoneline, line-spring b sleeve of plug (Z at su'bstation 0, lever 72 conductor 71., back to the opposite side of battery Z. The bell at substation Bis thus rung to call the attention of the subscriber, who removes his telephone from its hook and the two subscribers are in conversation over the telephone-line Z) b.

At each substation is provided a signal-bell spring-jacks except the springjack indi-' vidual to the substation. lhe opposite side of battery 0 is connected with a conductor a, which extends to the contacts r 1*, provided opposite contacts 1) p. lVhen a plug is inserted in one of the spring-jacks, the contacts p r are closed together, thus completing the local circuit through the spring-jacks, so that should the subscriber hang up his telephone 6 before returning the plug to its individual spring-jack, the circuit of battery 0 through hell m will be completed and the bell will ring. Thus should subscriber O hang up his telephone and not remove the plug from between the springs b b the circuit of bat-, tery 0 would be completed through the bell m, contact 9 switch-hook g, conductor '19, contact 12, contact 0", conductor a", back to the battery. lVhen the plug is removed from between the springs b If, the contacts 1) 7" are separated and the local circuit is opened.

In the particular form of my invention which I have illustrated and specifically described I have shown the local circuit con-.

trolled by contacts provided at such springjacks as are not individual to the line of the particular substation, but it is evident that other arrangement of the contacts may be devised, and I do not limit myself in this particular.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a village or house telephone system, the combination with telephone-lines extending to each of a plurality of substations, each telephone-line being provided at each substation with a switch-socket, of a plug at each substation connected with the telephone set and adapted to be inserted into any switchsocket at will to connect the telephone set in circuit with any one of said telephone-lines, a signal device, and, a device operated by the return of the telephone to its position of rest for actuating the signal device when the plug is not inserted in its individual socket 311 bstantially as described.

2. In a village or house telephone system, the combination with telephone-lines extending to each of a number of substations, each of said telephone -lines being provided at each substation with a switch-socket, of a plug at each substation connected with the telephone set and adapted to be inserted into the switch-socket of any line to connect the telephone set in circuit therewith, a local circuit-containing a signal device, contacts provided in connection with each of the switchsockets except the individual socket for completing the continuity of said local circuit through the switch-socket, and means operated by the return of the telephone to its position of rest for actuating the signal device when the plug is not inserted in its individual socket, whereby upon the return of the telephone to its position of rest said local circuit will be closed to sound an alarm unless the plug be returned to its individual socket; substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of August, A. D. 1095.

IVILLIAM R PATTERSON.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN WV. SINCLAIR, \V. CLYDE J ONES. 

